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City to get Black & Veatch study on wastewater plant before committing to major plant repairs
Summary
Staff told commissioners they hired Black & Veatch to assess whether a new wastewater treatment plant or upgrades to the existing plant are the better option; the study, due in early fall, will influence whether staff replace major pieces of plant equipment now or redirect those funds toward a new facility.
Leavenworth public-works staff said they have contracted Black & Veatch to reassess the city’s wastewater treatment options and to advise which existing plant components should be replaced if the city proceeds with a new plant design.
Public-works staff noted the plant currently uses a trickling-filter system and the previous HDR assessment enumerated many pieces of aged equipment. Staff said Black & Veatch will deliver a report in the coming months (staff expected a fall delivery) that will evaluate the costs and designs for a new plant sited on the existing property and identify which items in the current CIP list would no longer be necessary under a new design.
Roberta and public-works staff said the CIP currently includes line items such as replacement of trickling filter No. 1, switchgear replacement, and pump and pipe recoating — items that HDR previously recommended for keeping the existing plant functioning. The pending Black & Veatch study could identify savings by deferring some of those replacements if a new facility is the chosen path.
Why it matters: Wastewater plant choices are large capital decisions. Replacing many existing components while later deciding to build a new plant could be inefficient. Staff said the study is intended to align near-term CIP spending with longer-term capital choices to avoid unnecessary expenditures.
Next steps: Staff expect the Black & Veatch report in early fall and said they will return with recommendations that could change the CIP schedule for sewer-plant items.
